Composition

His catalogue has since grown to include orchestral essays, concertos, works for string orchestra, string quartets, piano trios and chamber music for a wide range of instrumental combinations. His experience as a performer and producer gives him an instinctive feel for the character of individual instruments and for the relationship between soloist and ensemble. This can be heard particularly clearly in Five for Five, a collection of quintets pairing bassoon, English horn, clarinet, oboe and flute in turn with string quartet, as well as in works including Suite for Strings, A Time of Uncertainties, Concierto del Luna and his concertos for flute, trumpet, oboe, cello, violin and viola.

Michael's music has been performed across Europe, North America and Cuba. He was a composer in residence at the inaugural Habana Clásica Festival, where his work formed part of a programme bringing visiting and Cuban musicians together. Other performances have included the world premiere of A Time of Uncertainties by the Prague Philharmonia, conducted by Emmanuel Villaume; performances of Suite for Strings in Belgium, conducted by Kristiina Poska, and in Spain, conducted by José Serebrier; and the European premiere of Piano Trio No. 2, California in Berlin, performed by Trio Brontë.

His scores are published by Donemus and Le Chant du Monde. Recordings devoted to his music include Seasons: Orchestral Music of Michael Fine, Five for Five: Chamber Music, Chamber Symphony, For a Friend and recordings of his third and fourth string quartets. Together, they reveal a composer whose work is lyrical, thoughtful and shaped by the people, places and musical relationships that have marked his life.